Internal combustion motor carburation apparatus and system of control therefor



May 7, 1935. Q oss 2,000,098

INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTOR CARBURATION APPARATUS AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed April 23, 1927 Patented May 7, 1935 PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTOR CARBURA- TION APPARATUS AND SYSTEM OF CON- TROL THEREFOR Oscar A. Ross,

New York, N. Y.

Application April 23, 1927, Serial No. 186,087

23 Claims.

This invention relates to carburation systems and more particularly to that class wherein a hydro-carbon liquid is broken up and mixed with a combustion supporting gas to form a combustible mixture for use in hydro-carbon motors and as more fully described in applicants application for Letters Patent Serial No. 80,000 filed January 8th,

1926 and of which instruments this invention,

forms a continuing application.

The prime object of this invention is to furnish means for controlling the supply of a nebulized (pulverized) hydro-carbon combustible mixture to a hydro-carbon motor.

In carburation systems employing carbureters of well known construction, the quantity of fuel supplied to form the combustible mixture is primarily determined by the passage of the air through the carbureter caused by the vacuum in the intakemanifold and cylinders of the motor.

In the systems as disclosed in applicants hereintofore' mentioned applications, the fuel is broken up, or nebulized independently of the action of the aforesaid vacuum and therefore, to properly supply the correct quantity and quality of combustible mixture to a hydro-carbon motorthe applicant has devised a new and novel system of control.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention progresses, and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 1

This invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore described, delineated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in that portion of the instrument wherein patentable novelty is claimed for certain and peculiar features of the invention, it being understood that, within the scope of what hereinafter thus is claimed, divers changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the system may be made without departing from the spirit of, or sacrificing any of the details of the invention.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated embodiments of my invention, and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts through the several views, and in which:--

Figure l is a side elevated view of part of the apparatus employed in this invention shown adapted to the manifolds of a hydrocarbon motor and is taken in part on line A--A of Fig. 2', and Fig. 2 "is a part elevated, part sectional view of the same apparatus taken on line B-B of Fig. 1,

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, combustible mix- I ture control unit I comprises in part nebulizing unit 2, which may be of the form, as for example, as disclosed in patent application. Serial No. 80,000 filed January 8th, 1926 and is suitably connected to and driven by a motor as 3 and is clamped to gasifying unit 4 by bolts 55, a suitable gasket 6 of caloric insulating material being interposed therebetween. V

Also forming part of unit I is air entrance orifice 7, leading to chamber 8, containing valve 9, seated by spring l0, adjusted by valve guide screw l l, and nut l2, said valve normally closing by-pass l3. The air entering chamber 8 is normally adapted to pass through canal l4, to the nebulizing unit 2.

Also forming part of unit I, is a nebulizing chamber l5, communicating to nebulizing unit 2, by canal l1, and to gasifying unit 4, by orifice l8, and to atmosphere by orifice IS in valve housing I9a, normally closed by valve 20, seated by spring 2|, adjusted by nut 22.

Fuel to nebulizing unit 2 is supplied by pipe 23 and the rate of flow is controlled by metering valve 24.

Forming part of the hydro-carbon motor 30 (Fig. 3,) is exhaust manifold 25 having gas shunting valve 26 adapted to shunt hot exhaust gases to unit 4 through extension 21, and the intake manifold 28, clamped to, and adapted to receive the combustible mixture from gasifying unit 4, this structure being more fully disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 185,487 filed April 23rd, 1927.

Referring to Fig. 3, to hydro-carbon motor 30 is attached the gasifying unit 4 having throttle valve 3| actuated by lever 32, the extension 32a, being adapted to impinge on adjustably secured collar 33, secured to rod 34, pivoted ,to metering valve 24; and the extension 321), pivoted to one end of rod 35, the other end of which is pivoted to accelerator pedal 36, mounted on foot board 31.

Also adapted to actuate metering valve 24, by rod 34, is bell crank lever 38, pivoted to unit 4, the extension 38a, of which is adapted to impinge on collar 39, secured to rod 34, and the extension 38b, of which is pivotably connected to one end of priming rod 40, the other end terminating in priming button 4|, mounted on dash board 42. Extension 32b normally impinges on adjusting screw 44 secured in stud 43.

Fuel to nebulizing unit, as 2, is normally supplied by pump 45, driven by motor 36, receiving fuel through pipe 46, and discharging said fuel through pipe 41, leading to one opening of threeway fitting 48, the second opening communicating to pressure relief valve 49, through pipe 56, and the third opening to pipe 5|, to three-way fitting 52 and thence by pipe 53 to fuel connection 23, of nebulizing unit 2.

Also adapted to supply fuel to nebulizing unit 2 by gravity is float chamber 54, connected to the third opening and fitting 52, a check valve 55, being adapted to permit flow of fuel from, but not to said chamber, being interposed therebee tween, the fuel to said chamber being supplied by pipe 56.

Driven by motor 36 is centrifugal governor 66 adapted to actuate motor speed control lever 6| pivoted at 6|a, the extension 62 of which is secured to, and actuated by the governor 66, and the insulated extension 63, being angularly adjustable with respect to extension 62 and adapted to receive energy through wire 64 from whence ist passes to contacts 65, 66 and 61 and resistance Energy to motor 36 is supplied by switch lever 16 interconnected to ignition switch lever "II by member 12, actuated by ignition block 13, energy entering through wire 64, thence passing through lever 63 to contact 65, and thence through resistance 68 to contact 61 and wire 14, thence through lever l6, (in closed position) to wire 15, and thence to motor 3, returning to the source bywire 15.

Energy to ignition apparatus 19 usually associated with internal combustion motors is supplied through wire 17, lever H (in closed position) thence through wire 18, to unit 19, returning to the source through wire 86.

The operation of the applicant's novel system of control is as follows:-

With the parts as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, motor 36 is assumed to be at rest. When it is desired to start motor the ignition switch key (not shown) is inserted in ignition lock 13, and the rotation thereof causes lever '16 and II to be lowered and establish two circuits, the first comprising the Ignition circuit From a source of energy to ignition apparatus I6, ordinarily supplied for ignition purposes in connection with hydro-carbon motors, returning to the source through wire 86, the second circuit comprising the Nebulizing motor circuit From a source of energy, through wire 64, lever 63, contact 65, resistance 68, contact 61, wire 14, contact lever 10, (in closed position) wire 1.5, to

motor 3, returning to the source by wire 16.

Simultaneously with establishing the last named circuit in the manner described, the priming button 4| is drawn to the right, in this manner raising metering valve 24, whereby fuel from float chamber 54 will pass to the nebulizing unit 2.

As motor'3 is actuated by establishing the nebulizing motor circuit, thefuel entering nebulizing unit 2 is nebulized by the action of said unit and s multaneously air is drawn through orifice small interval of time thereafter, the starter button (not shown) is depressed, thereby causing motor 36 to be cranked in a well known manner,

whereupon the combustible nebulizedmixture escaping from canal l1, into chamber l5, will also pass into canal 8| of the gasifying unit 4, from whence it will pass into intake manifold 28 and thence to motor 36, whereafter it is ignited in well known manner by energy from ignition apparatus 19, for the purpose of producing useful work by said motor.

During the interval, if such should occur, between establishing the nebulizing motor circuit and the depressing of the starter button, the nebulized combustible mixture generated by unit 2, and escaping from canal ll, will enter chamber I5, and thence pass through by-pass l3, to chamber 8, returning to nebulizer 2 from canal l4. As fuel will be continually flowing from float chamber 54 past metering valve 24, to unit 2, and will be nebulized thereby, a substantially rich combustible nebulized mixture will obtain, and

the longer time interval between establishing nebulizing motor circuit and depressing the starter button, the richer will be the mixture which first enters motor 36, when it is initially cranked by depressing the :said starter button.

It is to be noted that when the nebulizing motor and ignition circuits are normally established with 1, to chamber 8, and canal |4, passing into nebu-.

lizing unit 2, wherein it becomes the combustion supporting gas for the nebulized fuel and-in which it is suspended until consumed by motor 36.

Either simultaneously with, or preferably a motor 36 at rest, the entire resistance 68 is included in the neubilizing motor circuit, in this manner causing a substantially lowered speed of said motor, this speed being sumcient to supply said motor with the proper amount of combustible mixture, or if desired, with excess amount during its idling or lowered speeds, and until such times as the motor has attained a speed whereby governor 66 causes lever 6| to effect extension 63 to contact with contact 66, whereupon the cutting out of a portion of resistance 68 will further cause motor 3 to be speeded up, whereby a larger quantityof neubilized fuel will be generated and supplied. to chamber 9 and subsequently to motor 36.

A continued increase in the speed of motor 36 will eventually affect governor 66 to cause lever 6| to cut out the entire resistance 68 and motor 3 will then receive maximum energy in this manner, causing a maximum speed thereof and subsequentlya maximum supply of nebulized fuel to said motor.

The various speeds of motor 3 and the subsequent quantities of nebulized combustible mixture produced by neubilizing unit I, are preferably proportioned whereby an excess of nebulized combustible mixture, as compared to the normal combustible mixture demands of the motor is produced, the surplus passing through by-pass l3 to chamber 8, from when it is returned to the nebulizer unit 2.

It is obvious that by adjusting the tension of spring l6, valve 9 may be restrained from unseating until a pressure of the neubilized combustible mixture obtains in chamber I5, unit 4 and intake manifold 26, and that by establishing said pressure, which may be obtained by generating an excess of nebulized combustible mixture by unit I, said unit also becomes a super-charger, whereby the volumetric efliciency of the motor, as 36 may be substantially increased.

It is further obvious that by simultaneously increasing the tension of spring I6 and the excess quantity of nebulized combustible mixture, a very substantial pressure may be established in chamber l5, canal 8|, intake manifold 28 and the cylranged to conduct the combustible mixture from inders of motor 30, resulting in a high degree supercharging of said motor.

It is further obvious, that, whereas, three speeds of nebulizing motor 3 have been shown, any number of speeds may be provided by increasing the number of contacts as 65, 66 and 61.

The extension 32a, of lever 32 is preferably angularly adjusted with respect to extension 32b whereby the ratio of speed of movement of the rod 34 and metering valve 24 may be varied with respect to the speed of movement of accelerator rod and speed of opening of throttle valve 3|. Likewise stop collar 33 is adjustably secured to the rod 34 to compensate for adjustment of extension 32a, or the initial position of metering valve 24.

It is further obvious that the proportion of excess nebulized combustible mixture generated by unit 2 may be regulated by the angular adjustment of extension 63 with respect to extension 62, as for example by moving extension 63 to the right, one or more contacts as 65 and 66 and the interposing resistance may be cut out in this manner increasing speedof motor 3 with respect to the speed of hydro-carbon motor as 30, whereby the generated quantity of nebulized combustible mixture produced by unit 2, will be greater than the demand for combustible mixture by said motor at atmospheric pressure, in this manner establishing an abnormal pressure of the nebulized combustible mixture entering the cylinders of said motors, or in other words said hydro-carbon motor is supplied with a highly super-charged nebulized combustible mixture in this manner substantially increasing the volumetric efliciency of said motor.

Energy to motor 3 is preferably supplied by a starting, ignition and lighting battery, ordinarily supplied on hydro-carbon motor vehicles and not shown on the drawing.

If desired, nebulizing unit 2 may be jointly driven by hydro-carbon motor 30 through an over-running clutch, whereby as the speed of said hydro-carbon motor increases, the speed of nebulizing unit 2 will increase in the same proportion, in this manner furnishing a uniformly increasing supply of nebulized carburetted mixture to motor 30, independently of motor 3, and, under which circumstances said last named motor would ordinarily be employed for primarily producing the nebulized combustible mixture prior to the starting of the internal combustion motor 30.

With'the parts as shown, the metering valve 24 is closed. A control link from the steering column control on a steering column ordinarily supplied with hydro-carbon motor vehicles, and not shown in the drawing, is suitably connected to accelerator rod 35 in a well known manner, and whereby the throttle lever on said steering column control may be temporarily fixed at idling pos tion of motor 30, in this manner slightly raising metering valve 24 to permit enough fuel to flow to the nebulizing unit as 2, whereby motor 33"will not only start, but also operate at .idling speeds when the starter button is depressed as hereintofore described.

What I claim is:--

1. In combination with an internal combustion motor having an intake passage in communication therewith, of a combustible mixture producing device comprising, apparatus for finely dividing and suspending a liquid fuel in air, an air passage in communication therewith for supplying air thereto, a combustible mixture passage also in communication with the apparatus arthe apparatus to the intake passage, a port connecting the air and combustible mixture passages, a valve normally closing the port arranged to permit flow of the combustible mixture from the combustible mixture passage to the air passage but restraining movement of air from the air passage to the combustible mixture passage, a spring for seating the valve, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, and a source of liquid fuel arranged to supply fuel therefrom to the device.

2. In combination with an internal combustion motor having an intake passage in communication therewith, of a combustible mixture producing device comprising, apparatus for finely dividing and suspending a liquid fuel in air, an air passage in communication therewith for supplying air thereto, a combustible mixture passage also in communication with the apparatus arranged to conduct the combustible mixture from the apparatus to the intake passage, a port connecting the air and combustible mixture passages, a valve normally closing the port arranged to permit flow of the combustible mixture from the combustible mixture passage to the air passage but restraining movement of air from the air passage to the combustible mixture passage, a source of liquid fuel, and means for supplying fuel from the sourcev to the device.

3. In combination with an internal combustion motor having a combustible mixture producing device arranged to supply the combustible mixture thereto, of a source of fuel, govern ng means affected by variations in speed of the motor for rendering the device effective to produce the combustible mixture, a pump driven by the motor arranged to supply an excess flow of fuel from the source and thence through a fuel line to the device, a relief valve connected to the line arranged to return the excess fuel to the source upon a predetermined increase of pressure in the fuel line, means for supplying fuel from the source to the line by gravity when the pump is inactive, and means positioned between the fuel line and the gravity supply means for restraining the flow of fuel from the line to the gravity means when abnormal pressure is present therein.

4. In combination with an internal combustion motor having a combustible mixture producing device arranged to supply the combustible mixture thereto, of governing means affected by variations in speed of rotation of the motor for rendering the device operative to produce a cornbustible mixture in quantities substantially in proportion to the speed of the motor, a source of fuel, a pump driven by the motor arranged to supply an excess flow of fuel from the source and thence through a fuel line to the device, a relief valve connected to the line arranged to return the excess fuel to the source upon a predetermined increase of pressure in the fuel line, means for supplying fuel from the source to the line by gravity when the pump is inactive, and means positioned between the fuel line and the gravity supply means for restraining the flow of fuel from the line to the gravity means when abnormal pressure is present therein.

5. In combination with an internal combus- 7 tion motor having an intake passage in communication therewith, a throttle valve positioned therein arranged to control the flow of a combustible mixture therethrough, a combustible mixture device arranged to supply the combustible mixture therefrom to the intake passage and a source of fuel connected thereto, of governing means affected by variations in speed of rotation of the motor for rendering the device operative to produce the combustible mixture in quantities substantially in proportion to the speed of the motor, means for operating the throttle, means for metering the fuel fromthe source to the device, means controlled by the throttle operating means for actuating the metering means, and manually operated means for actuating the metering 'means independently of the throttle operating means whereby an excess of fuel will be supplied to the device during the starting period of the motor.

6. In combination with an internal combustion motor having an intake passage in communication therewith, a throttle valve positioned therein arranged to control the flow of a combustible mixture therethrough, a combustible mixture device arranged to supply the combustible mixture therefrom to the intake passage, and a source of fuel connected thereto, of a secondary motor arranged to actuate the device to produce the combustible mixture substantially in proportion to the speed thereof, governing means affected by variations in speed of rotation of the internal combustion motor for controlling the speed 'of the secondary motor whereby the speed thereof will be substantially in proportion to the speed of the internal combustion motor, means for operating the throttle, means controlled by the throttle operating means for actuating the metering means, and manually operated means for positioning the metering means whereby operation thereof by the throttle operating means is annulled during initial movement thereof.

7. In combination with an internal combustion motor having an intake passage in communication therewith, of a combustible mixture forming device arranged to discharge the combustible mixture produced thereby into the intake passage, a motor for actuating the device to produce the combustible mixture, a source of energy for the motor, and means controlled by the operation of the internal combustion motor for controlling the flow of the energy from the source to the device motor whereby the quantity of combustible mixture formed by the device may be varied upon variation in operation of the internal combustion motor.

8. The combination with an internal combustion-motor having a combustible mixture producing apparatus arranged to supply a combustible mixture thereto, of governing means affected by variations in speed of rotation of the motor for rendering the apparatus operative to produce the mixture in quantities substantially in proportion to the speed thereof, and means associated with the governing means for varying the ratio of the variabe quantity produced with respect to the speed of the motor.

9. The combination with an internal combussystem ineffective to ignite the mixture in the internal combustion motor.

10. The combination -with'an internal combustion motor having a combustible mixture producing apparatus arranged to supply a combustible mixture thereto for effecting operation of the motor, of governing means affected by variations in speed of the motor for rendering the apparatus operative to produce the mixture in quantities substantially in proportion to variations in speed thereof, means associated with the governing means for varying the ratio of the variable quantity of the mixture produced with respect to the speed of the motor, an ignition system associated with the motor, and means operated at will for jointly rendering the governing means ineffective to control the apparatus and the ignition system inefiective to ignite the mixture in the motor.

11. The combination with an internal combustion motor having a combustible mixture producing apparatus arranged to supply a combustible thereto, of governing means affected by variations in speed of the motor for rendering the apparatus operative to produce the mixture in quantities substantially in proportion to variations in speed thereof, means associated with the governing means for varying the ratio of the variable quantity of the mixture produced with respect to the speed of the motor, and means operated at will for rendering the governing means ineffective to control the apparatus whereby operation of the motor may be stopped.

12. The combination with an internal combustion motor, of an explosive charge forming device operated by the motor arranged to produce an explosive charge independently of the induction produced by the operation of the motor, a throttle valve positioned inthe explosive charge flow from the device to the motor arranged to control the supply of the charge from the device to the motor, a source of fuel connected to the device, means for controlling the throttle valve to vary the supply of the explosive charge from the device to the motor, and means associated with the throttle valve control means arranged to control the flow of the fuel from the source to the device simultaneously with the control of the supply of the explosive charge from the device to the motor.

13. The combination with an internal combustion motor, of an explosive charge forming device therefore arranged to produce an explosive charge independently of the induction produced by the operation of the motor, a throttle valve positioned in the explosive charge flow from the device to the motor arranged to control the supply of the charge therebetween, and means associated with the motor for varying the quantity of explosive charge produced by the device in response to variations in speed of the motor independently of the operation of the throttle valve to supply the charge from the device to the motor.

g the motor, and governing means affected by variations in speed of the motor controlling the apparatus operating means for rendering the apparatus operative to supply predetermined and variable quantities of combustible mixture to the motor during the operation thereof.

15. The combination with an internal combustion motor, of means for forming a combustible mixture independently of the operation of the motor, governing means affected by the operation of the motor for controlling the quantity of combustible mixture formed by the mixture forming means, and means for conducting the combustible mixture formed by the mixture producing means to the motor for the operation thereof.

16. The combination with an internal combustion motor, of combustible mixture producing apparatus, a secondary motor for operating the apparatus to produce the mixture, a source of energy therefore, governing means affected by variations in the speed of the internal combustion motor arranged to vary the fiow of the energy from the source to the secondary motor, connecting means normally positioned to effect flow of energy from the source to the secondary motor for the operation thereof, and means operated at will for moving the connecting means to another position for stopping flow of the energy from the source to the secondary motor.

17. The combination with an internal combustion motor, of means operable to produce a gas pressure in the intake passageways and cylinders of the motor, the gas pressure being producedindependently of the operation of the motor, and governing means affected by the operation of the motor arranged to control the operation of the gas pressure producing means.

18. In a carburation system, an internal combustion motor, means for producing a combustible mixture therefore including an electric motor, an ignition system for igniting the mixture supplied to the internal combustion motor, a source of energy, and manually operated switching means for jointly connecting and disconnecting the source to the electric motor and the ignition system.

19. In a carburation system for internal combustion motors having an intake passageway and a throttle valve therefore, a carbureting device including rotative and stationary liquid fuel pulverizing. members for producing a combustible mixture, means for supplying liquid fuel from a source to the pulverizing members, a valve for controlling the flow of the fuel from the source to the members, means energized independently of the induction of the internal combustion motor for rotating the rotative pulverizing member, andmeans operated at will for jointly operating the throttle valve and the fuel valve.

20. In a carburation system for internal combustion motors, an internal combustion motor having an intake manifold, a carbureting device secured to the intake end of the manifold including rotating carbureting means for producing a fog like combustible mixture arranged to be supplied to the manifold, a source of liquid fuel therefor, a motor for operating the rotating carbureting means, a source of energy therefore independent of the internal combustion motor,

the combustible mixture supplied to the internal combustion motor being produced solely by the carbureting device independently of the induction of the internal combustion motor.

21. In a carburation system, an internal combustion motor having an intake manifold, a combustible mixture producing device secured thereto, a combustible mixture producing chamber in the device, an air intake chamber in the device including a passageway to the atmosphere independently of the mixture producing chamber, an

opening connecting the air intake chamber and the intake manifold, an inlet opening connecting the air intake chamber and the mixture producing chamber, a second air intake chamber, a port connecting the first and second air intake chambers having a valve controlling the flow of air therethrough, and an opening connecting the second named air intake chamber and the mixture producing chamber for normally supplying air thereto for producing the combustible. mixture.

22. In a carburation system, an internal combustion motorha-ving an intake manifold, a combustible mixture producing device secured thereto, a combustible mixture producing chamber in the device, an air intake chamber in the device including a passageway to the" atmosphere independently of the mixture producing chamber, an opening connecting the air intake chamber and the mixture producing chamber for normally moving the mixture to the manifold, a second air intake chamber, in thedevice, a port connecting the first and second air intake chambers having a valve controlling the flow of air therethrough, an opening connecting the second named air intake chamber and the mixture producing chamber for normally supplying air thereto for producing the mixture, and means resiliently seating the valve in the port.

23. In a carburation system for internal combustionmotors, an internal combustion motor having a combustible mixture intake passageway, a carbureting device for producing a combustible mixture for supply to the intake passageway, a source of liquid fuel for the device, a rotative element in the device for disintegrating the fuel to form a fog-like combustible mixture, an electric motor for operating the rotative element,

an ignition system for the motor, and means jointly rendering the ignition system and the electric motor operative and inoperative.

OSCAR A. ROSS. 

